A triple treat, the third issue of the third year of the weekly #histSTM links List Whewell’s Gazette bringing, as always, a mixed but very full bag of the histories of science, technology and medicine as found in the far reaches of cyberspace over the last seven days.

The chemist John Dalton was born in the first week of September two hundred and fifty years ago, his exact date of birth is unknown. He is without doubt one of the most important figures involved in the creation of the new chemistry in last part of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth century. Beyond this he played a significant role in the history of meteorology, the cartography of mountains and did early research into the causes of colour blindness, from which he suffered, that led to the condition becoming known as Daltonism.

Altogether there is no doubt that Dalton is a member of the premier league of historical scientists; not quite a Newton or a Darwin but not so far removed from their lofty heights. This being the case it is rather strange that this anniversary, a quarter millennium, is being largely ignored by the official bodies that are usually all too keen to get out the bunting on such occasions.

There has been no Google Doodle, no celebrations from the British Government or any of the official national bodies for science that are funded with public money. Perhaps strangest of all is the deafening silence on the subject emanating from the city of Manchester, Dalton’s place of birth and the place where he did all of his ground breaking research.

This silence leads automatically to the question, why? Why is John Dalton, one of the most important figures in the history of chemistry, not considered worthy of celebration? Is it the man himself or maybe the subject? Are chemistry and the atomic theory not considered significant enough in our modern world to justify a celebration? I can’t even begin to hazard a guess in answer to my own questions; all I know is that Dalton deserves better than this.

John Dalton born first week of September 1766

British physicist and chemist John Dalton (1766-1844) by Charles Turner (1773-1857) after James Lonsdale (1777-1839). Mezzotint.Source: Wikimedia Commons

“This paper will no doubt be found interesting by those who take an interest in it.” – John Dalton